European Union

General : Following the publication of the blacklist of European politicians and officials, the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, on Tuesday informed the Russian Ambassador to the EU that insofar as the Russian authorities have failed to ensure transparency in their decisions, in line with international law and legal obligations, and allow the targeted individuals the right of defence and of appeal, he considers that it is now justified to take appropriate measures in response.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Economic growth is a key driver of poverty reduction, but its impact on the poor depends on growth patterns and policies. It is increasingly accepted that economic growth that advances development must be both socially inclusive and ecologically sustainable. Unlike the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are expected to contain a goal on sustainable and inclusive growth. Some have challenged the revived focus on growth, both for ecological reasons and because they argue that wellbeing is not fully reflected in GDP figures. EU development policy has focused on sustainable and inclusive growth since 2011, with more attention devoted to trade, private sector engagement and promoting a favourable business environment. The European Parliament has recognised the role of growth in achieving development objectives, but insists on the need to include the most deprived and vulnerable, and on combatting inequality.
Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

A proposal to streamline and simplify complicated animal health rules in the EU was informally agreed by MEPs, the European Commission and the national governments on 1 June. Marit Paulsen, the Parliament's lead negotiator, described the result as "fantastic": "Its most important principle is to prevent rather than to cure." We talked to Paulsen, who has been pushing animal welfare issues for four decades, about her interest in animals and how the new rules will make a difference.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

A proposal to streamline and simplify complicated animal health rules in the EU was informally agreed by MEPs, the European Commission and the national governments on 1 June. Marit Paulsen, the Parliament's lead negotiator, described the result as "fantastic": "Its most important principle is to prevent rather than to cure." We talked to Paulsen, who has been pushing animal welfare issues for four decades, about her interest in animals and how the new rules will make a difference.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Question for oral answer O-000063/2015
to the Council
Rule 128
Elena Valenciano, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

On Thursday 4 June, the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula (Cathédrale des Sts Michel et Gudule) in Brussels will host a performance by the distinguished Latvian organist Iveta Apkalna. The concert will feature works by Franz Liszt, Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and other composers.

At an informal meeting of the Council of Ministers for Agriculture held on 1-2 June in Riga, the Latvian side, representing the Presidency of the EU Council, initiated discussions on the situation regarding organic agriculture and its development in the European Union.

The European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on the outstanding issues concerning the proposal for a regulation on animal health law at an informal trilogue meeting on 1 June. The regulation is expected to be formally adopted before the end of 2015, after the final procedures including the legal-linguistic revision of the text, are completed. It will become applicable 5 years after its entry into force.

Control and prevention of animal diseases 

The animal health law aims to ensure high standards of animal and public health in the EU. It will provide a single overarching legal framework with harmonised principles across the sector, which is currently regulated by a series of linked and interrelated regulations and directives. 

The focus of the animal health law is on the control and prevention of transmissible animal diseases, whose effect can be devastating for individual animals, animal populations, animal keepers and the economy. It aims to reduce the adverse effects of those transmissible animal diseases and to limit the potential negative effects of the measures taken to prevent and control them. It puts a high emphasis on the prevention of animal diseases and places a special importance on biosecurity measures as a key prevention tool. 

List of animal diseases 

The diseases which will be subject to specific disease prevention and control rules are listed in the Annex to the Regulation. The initial list includes those diseases which currently qualify for EU funding (Regulation 652/2014). The list will be reviewed and revised by the Commission before the start of application of the animal health law, to ensure that all those diseases - and only those diseases - which meet the strict harmonised criteria set out in the animal health law are on that list. 

The rules of the animal health law shall take into account, among other elements, the relationship of animal health with public health, with food and feed safety, with antimicrobial resistance and with animal welfare, including the sparing of any avoidable pain, distress or suffering. However, they do not replace, duplicate or overlap with the existing EU legislation on animal welfare. 

The animal health law will be complemented by a set of more detailed rules to be adopted at a later stage by the Commission in accordance with the empowerments defined by the co-legislators. 

The proposal for a regulation on animal health law was originally issued as a part of a package of reviews relating to animal health, health of plants and official controls of plants, animals, food and feed. 

"The new Regulation sets out a clear and single legal framework to ensure a better prevention and control of animal diseases transmissible between animals and from animals to humans. It takes into account new challenges such as diseases that up to recently were not known, increased trade volumes and technological developments" said Jānis Dūklavs, President of the Council and the Latvian minister for agriculture . 

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

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The informal meeting of Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries takes place in Riga, on 2 June 2015. Ministers initiate discussions about the current situation on organic agriculture and its development in the European Union.

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General : The media often report on how Brussels has decided on a new piece of legislation, but this is a simple version of what is a very complicated process. In our interactive infographic you find a more precise overview of how decisions that affect the EU and the people living in it are taken by MEPs and the member states.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

General : The media often report on how Brussels has decided on a new piece of legislation, but this is a simple version of what is a very complicated process. In our interactive infographic you find a more precise overview of how decisions that affect the EU and the people living in it are taken by MEPs and the member states.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP